Photo ABCs

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Sorana Cirstea, Anna Kalinskaya

Romanian Sorana Cirstea competes against Anna Kalinskaya in an early round match at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.

Cirstea would win in three sets.

 

Kalinskaya:

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Tommy Paul

American Tommy Paul is currently ranked #37 on the ATP tour.

Here he competes with Taylor Fritz in an early round doubles match at the 2022 BNP Parbias Open at Indian Wells.

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Carlos Alcaraz

Eighteen year old Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz is taking the tennis world by storm this year. Out of seemingly nowhere, he is defeating top-ranked players and it is only a matter of time before he wins one or more of the four major titles. As I write this he is ranked #16 in the world, whereas a year ago he was not in the top 100!

Playing with countryman Pablo Carrena Busta, he competes in a doubles match against Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. Fritz and Paul would win the match, but Alcaraz would advance to the semifinals in singles, losing a thrilling three-set match to Rafael Nadal.

If I had known at the time what a star Alcaraz is becoming, I would have stayed longer at the match and taken more photos of Alcaraz! (I confess that I was there to take photos of Fritz).

 

 

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Matteo Berrettini, Holger Rune

Italian Matteo Berrettini is now ranked #6 on the ATP tour.

Here he competes against 18 year old Holger Rune, at #88 the highest ranked Danish player.

Berrettini would win in three sets during this early round match at the BNP Paribas Open.

Holger Rune:

 

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas

Greek Stafanos Tsitsipas is currently ranked #5 on the ATP circuit.

Here he practices at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.

He would be upset by American newcomer Jenson Brooksby in the round of 32.

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Kaia Kanepi, Harriet Dart

In yesterday's post I mentioned looking for players to photograph when the afternoon light is at its best.

During this year's tournament I discovered a vantage point at one of the smaller stadiums which provides spectacular backlighting during the short amount of time before the sun disappears behind the stands.

Here Kaia Kanepi serves to British Harriet Dart during an early round match.

Estonian Kanepi is currently ranked #61 on the WTA tour, having once been ranked as high as #15.

Harriet Dart is a young British player rapidly rising in the rankings, now ranked # 99. Dart would defeat Kanepi in straight sets.

 

 

A ballgirl keeps Dart supplied during her serve:

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Sascha Zverev

German Alexander "Sascha" Zverev practices at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.

Every time I attend the tournament at Indian Wells I wait for the magical late afternoon light and look for players to photograph.

During my second and final day at the tournament Sascha was the only player practicing just as the sun was setting.

 

 

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff competes against Simona Halep in an early round match at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Gauff would lose in straight sets.

American Gauff is 18 years old, and is now ranked #17 on the WTA tour.

 

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Simona Halep

Former #1 player Simona Halep competes against Coco Gauff in an early round match at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.

Halep would win in straight sets.

 

 

Indian Wells Tennis 2022: Victoria Azarenka

Former WTA #1 Victoria Azarenka competes at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.

Here she serves against Australian Astra Sharma in an early round match.

Azarenka would win in straight sets.